6 Thoughts That Crossed My Mind During a Week Offline
It seems that this is your first time to my blog. Welcome! In this blog I will share my ideas on how you can make a living in a way that feels good to you, your family, your environment and everyone around you. If you want to know more about me and this blog, check out my about page. And if you want to stay updated on my new posts, subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for stopping by!
On the Friday morning before Easter at six A.M. our plane left for Costa del Sol, Spain. It was a relaxing week of sun, warmth, singing together with our Church Choir, and away from the online world.
Now, I’m back, and trying to find my place on the blogosphere again.
To resume my life online, I decided to share some bits from my mind from the past week. In no particular order.
I hope you’ll find them interesting.
Traveling is fun!
…and taking a child with you makes it twice as fun (and challenging)
Oiva was a good chap and enjoyed the warm climate, sand, and all the new things all over him.
On the other hand, he pretty much dictated our pace, the times we could use for relaxing (not during the days, that is), and pretty much everything. But while it was challenging at times, there is no question about it - the good brought by this young traveler beat the challenges 100 to 1.
My lesson learned: having kids is a poor excuse for not traveling. After all, who of us didn’t like to travel when we were young?
And, if you want to get away for a while but can’t afford it right now, here’s a free way: How to Travel the Globe for FREE Using FLICKR
Work as a meaning for life is overrated
Before leaving for Spain about a week and a half ago, I wrote a post about planning your work and life as one thing, and not too separate entities. This idea can be implemented in two ways.
One is to make your work the meaning for your life.
The other is to plan your work so that there is more room for a full life.
I often find myself thinking that without work, things would soon get boring. Not during this holiday. Throughout each of the seven days, there was always something to do and experience.
The four-hour workweek starts to make sense.
There’s nothing wrong in a bit of a backup plan
Sure. I want to do big things.
But I’m not in my early twenties anymore. At almost 28, I’m closing in to thirty, have a wife and kid, some mortgage, and packed my bags full of baby food and diapers for the holidays. Just in case.
Actually, it was my wife’s idea, but I agreed. Just in case.
Just don’t let your carefulness stop you from doing the big things you are planning.
I don’t need all that information
When I returned home from my trip, I had 1000+ unread blog articles waiting for me in my Google Reader. Multiply 1000 by 52. That is 52,000 articles per year!
Sure, I like to brag about reading all the time. But I think this is too much.
So, yesterday I spend about an hour cutting down the number of blogs I subscribe to about half of what it used to be before the trip, getting down to 127 subscriptions. Not a small number, but at least a bit easier to handle.
If you have a similar problem, check out SproutWire and let us spot the best articles from the noise for you. The site just went live yesterday, and is now ready for the masses!
Life is full of new things to learn
It’s interesting to see how thoughts evolve.
Before I started blogging I had no idea. Because unless you write down your thoughts, you’ll never remember what you were thinking a year ago, or even a month ago.
This, I think, is the beauty of blogging: a blog is a record of the small changes that happen when your brain interacts with the world. A full version control that shows the path you have gone through to get to where you are today.
If you are not blogging yet, try it now!
Back to normal scheduling
This was my quick way to say I’m back, and had a lot of fun on my short vacation. It was warm and sunny. It was hard at times. And it was relaxing most of the time.
New, more structured posts coming up later this week. Welcome to all new readers and the rest of you, thanks for sticking around!
Cheers!
If you enjoyed this post and don't want to miss any of my new content, subscribe to my RSS feed or have the latest posts delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I find it hard not to get caught up with working. More with my website than my day job since I see it has the potential to change my future. I still need time away from work to keep from getting burned out. My wife and kids also need me.
UltraRob’s last blog post: Gold Bar Rim and Portal Trail
March 31st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Hi Jarkko - Welcome back! Nice way to kick things off…you now have me reflecting as well, and I didn’t even take a trip :)
Mark’s last blog post: How to Travel the Globe for FREE Using FLICKR
April 1st, 2008 at 6:48 am
Dear Jarkko,
Welcome Back…
You know I just can’t help to read your blog.
I always check my bookmark for your new post.
Well written direct to the point.
Its all come from the heart.
My tongue never got twisted as well as my mind.
So smooth to read…
PS.
Your baby is so cute…
Thank You And More Power
April 1st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thanks guys! It’s nice to be back with such amazing people waiting for me :)
@UltraRob: I know. That happens to me a lot as well, and as long as the rest of your needs (and the needs of your family) are fulfilled, that’s OK.
One thing that is on my mind right now is the nature of the work. Is it something you have to do, or something you want to do? Maybe by implementing a muse business, like Tim Ferriss recommends, we could get rid of the have-to and only work on the want-to (your website, in this case?).
@Mark: Nice to hear that I got you thinking! Looking forward to hearing your ideas :)
@Don: Thanks, man! It’s great to hear you enjoy my writing. And yes, Oiva is the cutest!
Take care!
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
That suitcase photo is hilarious! You could sell it to any insurance company ;-)
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
This is such a timely post. Julie and I are trying to get preggy and were debating if it would be too hard to do a trip to Italy with a 6 week old newborn (hypothetically speaking). That is a great photo.
shane’s last blog post: Top 10 Mistakes Made by New Freelancers
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Jarkko,
Almost every time I read your stuff I really think we are twins separated at birth. Have I said that before?
“Just don’t let your carefulness stop you from doing the big things you are planning”.
I am in the process of simplifying and making some big changes in business and personal life. I blogged about them a bit today at my personal blog and I am tired of being careful and playing by others rules. And I thank Shane and you for some this inspiration!
@Shane - go for broke on the baby thing, even though she is going to do all the work! LOL. My family and I go just about everywhere together and we love being with each other. It’s a tremendous blessing no matter how young or old they are.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
@Pepez: Good idea! :)
@Shane: Hmm… Traveling with a 6 week old newborn sounds a bit different from traveling with one with 10 months of age.
But actually, I think you could pull it off. It might even be easier than traveling with a baby of Oiva’s age. First of all, a newborn (often) sleeps most of the day (I can’t remember if it was 16 hours per day or even more). Second, even when he/she is awake he/she doesn’t move nor care about where he/she is. Any place is just as good as any other.
I’m starting to wonder why we didn’t travel with Oiva when he was younger ;)
@James: Hehe! You said that once before, but it’s great to hear it again anyway, brother :)
I just went to read your blog post - you can expect a comment over there as well once I get it written.
August 17th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I looking for the next installment of your blog